Wandering Eyes

After a team effort, Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky, welcomed GSW Noble Indy (Take Charge Indy) on Thursday, Dec. 7, the retirement farm said in a release Friday. The 8-year old bay gelding, who ran in the 2018 GI Kentucky Derby, was repatriated from Puerto Rico thanks to the efforts of Fred Hart, who became a big fan of the horse due to his ownership of his dam, Noble Maz; Kelley Stobie, owner of Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, which has assisted many Thoroughbreds in Puerto Rico; and Mike Repole, Noble Indy's original owner who paid to transport the horse to the United States and then to Old Friends. Originally trained by Todd Pletcher and bred by WinStar Farm, Noble Indy's first graded stakes win came in the GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, which punched his ticket to the Derby where he finished 17th. The once promising Thoroughbred was never able to recapture his pre-Derby form and began to drop down the racing ranks until he was shipped to Puerto Rico last year where he ran five times at Camarero. After following his journey, Hart got involved and sought to retire the horse. In an article by TDN's Bill Finley, Hart said, “I became sentimentally attached to this horse and was afraid harm would come to him if he stayed in Puerto Rico. I just wanted to get him out of there.” Hart contacted Stobie, and the two worked together to try and retire the horse. The issue they ran into was that the owner, Skull Stable PR, named a price they could not pay. However, they persisted, but the ask still remained too high. Then, following an injury, Skull Stable PR finally lowered the number and Noble Indy was sent to Stobie's farm. “It was a tense time since Indy came to Puerto Rico, knowing if we would be able to get him off the island in one piece,” said Stobie. “Thankfully his surgery back in February of this year did not go as planned, so he could no longer race and the owner agreed to retire him to CTA. We are grateful to Repole Stables for their generous donation, which did not only help Noble Indy, but will pay for two other horses in need to get home. Also thank you to Winstar Farms for stepping up and sending a donation.” “We are all very excited that Noble Indy will spend the rest of his life at Old Friends in Kentucky,” said Repole. “This was an amazing team effort by so many to bring Noble Indy back from Puerto Rico and to give him the great retirement that he deserves.” “Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to allow us to enjoy Noble Indy's retirement,” said Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends. “His story will make him a magnet for racing fans. Come visit.” The post Old Friends Welcomes GSW Noble Indy From Puerto Rico After Team Effort appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DEAUVILLE, France — Everything changes; everything stays the same. Here's Eric Puerari, rounding off another sales season, his Haras des Capucines consignment an unmissable fixture right next to the parade ring at Arqana. Yet once again, on the eve of the auction, Puerari will on Friday have noticed new faces, making their serious, frowning notes as his mares are led up and down. Will these last any longer than some who surfaced in the previous cycle? Who can say? Plenty of them, Puerari acknowledges, have an authentically competent, dynamic air. Types to keep the old guard on their toes. “That's the biggest change, the rotation of people that are active,” he says. “When I started, in '95, the newest breeder before me had been Aliette Forien, 10 years previously. Now it feels like we have 10 farms setting up every year. All with quality people, with ambition, putting nice structures in place. And the change among the purchasing entities is just as fast. Sometimes, by the time you get to know someone, they've already disappeared—and yet another has come along in their place. It's impressive, such constant renewal. But it's also the biggest challenge today, to keep pace with so much change.” Yet whatever people do, in their quest for an edge, one thing abides. Because no software programme, no metric, no business model will remove an 'x' from the equation—and that is the imponderable mystery of the Thoroughbred itself. “I think the attraction of horses is precisely that technique doesn't actually have much effect,” Puerari says. “People think they can find new ways of doing things, and we have made some progress on a few points. But in the end it always comes down to the same thing: it's always man-and-horse, with a little handling, and the care you take about that. But the main part is intangible.” That doesn't prevent Puerari and his Capucines partners—co-founder Michel Zerolo, and now an additional investor in Philippe Lazare—from recognising the commercial imperatives arising from this flux of challenge and opportunity. Their own operation is expanding, evolving, adapting to shifts in the marketplace. On the one hand, they have hired Jean-Daniel Manceau to direct a new venture, Capucines Bloodstock; on the other, Puerari himself is devoting himself more than ever to the farm, in order to support increasing volume and welcome new clients. “Jean-Daniel is a promising young man,” Puerari says. “He can help us propose nominations, find ideas, buy horses privately for clients. Today you have to be wide open, prepared to try different things. Because as I said, this business is moving very fast. There are a lot of creative, enterprising young people, travelling the world over. So we have to renew our concept a little. Our target is not to follow all the trends, but to try and have some foresight, see how things are developing, and give appropriate options to our clients.” For the core business, meanwhile, Capucines has leased an extra 50 hectares to take the aggregate up to 250—that is, over 600 acres—grazed by 80 mares, some owned by the partners, some with old friends like Dominique Hazan and Ariane Gravereaux, some boarded by the likes of Peter Brant. (These latter, incidentally, include a number in foal to Demarchelier (GB), the son of Dubawi (GB) standing at Claiborne. “We're very impressed by his stock,” Puerari says. “We've raised four of his yearlings, and one has already gone on to be Group-placed, and another looks Group class as well.”) The Capucines team has also been central to the transfer of Muhaarar (GB) to Haras du Petit Tellier, Shadwell having agreed to sell a 50 percent stake. The return is quicker, if you can run early, and the programme especially in England is oriented that way. But you can see that the Classic stables are not that way, nor the Japanese—and the Japanese probably have the best horses in the world now. “This was Michel's idea, because he was following his results,” Puerari says. “We're grateful to have secured a group of French breeders to support him. He's a very interesting stallion, very like his broodmare sire Linamix (Fr) in that he can throw very different types: horses with speed, horses with stamina, durable horses that run well in America. It's nice for France to have a horse such a versatile influence, and I think €14,000 for a proven stallion like this is very affordable.” Puerari doesn't rule out standing stallions at Capucines someday. “For just one horse, this was more practical, and Petit Tellier do a very good job,” he says. “But if we grow even more, then who knows? Of course we buy shares in stallions, and I've been managing stallions since I was young. It's a very interesting business; a very risky one, too. But I do think breeders today have to do a little bit of everything. Because sometimes you try stallions and they turn out no good, while the proven ones are becoming extremely expensive. If you look at the sales record of their progeny, there's very little margin. So you have to be creative. You try your luck with stallion shares, you do some consigning, some breaking, just find ways to balance your activity a little.” Certainly it's a very different environment from the one into which he launched the farm as a young bloodstock agent in 1993. His father, a banker like many of their ancestors (the surname comes from Italy via Switzerland), had introduced Puerari to Thoroughbreds as a small but extremely shrewd breeder whose programme produced the likes of Silver Cloud and Tyrone. (Both won the Grand Criterium, and the latter followed up in the Poulains.) Puerari is also grateful for the racetrack mentoring of Maurice Zilber, whose approach he has memorably compared to the surprise attacks of a military genius. “My father didn't have a farm, so I think the idea was little bit of a dream,” he recalls. “I realised that being an agent was something fragile, too; that you can lose traction, and I wanted to be on a more solid base. But I had no precise idea, no competence, no experience. No clue at all, really. Probably if I did it again, I would do it quite differently. But you know, I'm not sure I was doing much worse than now!” Even the name was improvised. He hadn't given it any thought when suddenly the deadline for sale entries was upon him. With a day to decide, a neighbour happened to arrive, saying, “I've just come up the Boulevard des Capucines.” (Nasturtiums, that is, though Capucine also happened to be his sister's name.) Puerari reckons that three things enabled him to overcome his lack of seasoning. One, he hired good people from the outset. Two, the land was the best in Normandy, as recognised by Louis XIV in choosing an adjacent site for the royal stud. And three, the farm's very first crop included G1 Irish Derby winner Winged Love (Ire). Luck played its part here, too, as Sheikh Mohammed's team only diverted the horse to the Curragh from the German Derby at the 11th hour, following a setback to their intended runner. Fittingly, Winged Love was out of a mare co-bred by Puerari and his father from one they had bought from the Dupre family. Winged Love was then bought privately as a yearling by Anthony Stroud, with the condition that he was sent to a young trainer named Fabre. “Winged Love was the turning point,” Puerari says. “That gave me some strength to carry on. To buy a farm and breed, you need funding, and on the eve of the King George—through Michel—I was able to sell the mare to the Yoshida family for a very round price. So that gave me the fuel to develop the farm.” That, of course, was among many exports then being made by Japanese investors. As a result of those patient endeavours, the Japanese breed is arguably now setting global standards. But few seem to be heeding the implicit rebuke to short-term commercialism, among European breeders. It would be hard work, nowadays, to market a horse like Winged Love's sire, In The Wings (GB), who didn't crack the elite level until running over 12 furlongs at four. At Tattersalls, where Puerari and Zerolo were as usual presiding over their European Sales Management draft, there was further evidence of fragility in the middle market. “And the racing is a bit the same now, you have a few powerful organisations at the top and the system is very polarised,” Puerari says. “In that sale a big proportion of the nice, young, Group-winning mares were sprinters, because the Classic stables don't buy those as yearlings. That's where the market lies for ordinary people, they can buy those types for not too much money and hope to make them valuable. The return is quicker, if you can run early, and the programme especially in England is oriented that way. But you can see that the Classic stables are not that way, nor the Japanese—and the Japanese probably have the best horses in the world now.” Puerari smiles wryly, adding: “But the Irish are very creative!” The business of the breeder is to have a dream, and then to face reality every day. It's about trying to keep that dream alive Puerari accepts the observation that smaller breeders cannot really pretend that Classic sires are unaffordable, when you consider a horse like Nathaniel (Ire). “But time is of the essence,” he says. “Everybody wants a quick return, everybody's in a hurry. You don't have many people playing for the long term. Look at the Aga Khan or the Wertheimers, they've been there for a century. How many comparable stables do we have in the world? Not many.” Yet not all the great breeders have necessarily doubled down on their trademark families. “For many years I worked for Monsieur Lagardere,” Puerari says. “And he would do the opposite. He'd try to renew at least 20 percent, maybe a quarter, of his bloodlines every single year. He would never 'sleep' on pedigrees, but would blend them, renew them, challenge them. And I do agree that bloodlines have a lifespan. Great female families and great breeding operations are the same: if you don't renew all the time, eventually you're going to lose power.” Puerari is now curious to see how the overall gene pool addresses its own stagnation. “We're getting ourselves into a corner, genetically,” he remarks. “The same horses are dominating, so we'll have to see whether we can find some interesting stallions with different blood. If you look at the old pedigrees, you see that in every era there's been dominant blood, with a lot of inbreeding. And then, surprisingly, these lines disappear. Lines that were fashionable quite recently, like the Mill Reef/Shirley Heights one, suddenly just die out.” One way or another, then, a degree of rotation feels right in the Capucines programme. “It's true that buyers get fed up with the 'normal,'” Puerari says. “Everybody wants something new all the time, that's why first-year stallions succeed. People always want new blood, a new offer, so we try to do that as well in our operation.” From a domestic perspective, Puerari admits to disappointment that so many of the best French yearlings are nowadays exported. “I think we have a lot of talent in France, but we lack a bit of funding,” he says. “It's now very difficult to have a horse for our main sale, here in August: you need a couple of hundred thousand for the mare, and to pay a nomination of €50,000, which means that after two or three years you've spent half a million with no guarantee. “We do have some foreign investment, Sumbe and Yeguada Centurion are very nice additions, for instance. But we need more of those international breeders, and we need to stay internationally competitive. That's a big fight, here, because a lot of people just see the local scene. We need our leaders not to lose sight of the bigger picture, and to promote the best racing we can.” At the top level, to be fair, that's an obligation shared internationally. Puerari feels that elite competition has been diluted by insertion of local showcases into the existing programme. The introduction of a Champions' Day at Ascot deliberately confronted both the Arc meeting and the Breeders' Cup, for instance, while enormous prizes offered in the desert have eroded historic races in California. But then maybe that's another variation on the kind of constant change that Puerari has already discussed. And he's determined that the brand he has built, with the help of three Classic winners and two Breeders' Cup winners off the farm, will remain as relevant and responsive as ever in its 30th year. He feels fortunate, in this respect, in his partnership with Zerolo. “We met on a plane years ago, going to Newmarket to visit the stable of Olivier Douieb,” Puerari recalls. “We were the same kind of age and just hit it off. Michel wasn't really thinking of having a farm but suggested, really just in a spirit of friendship, that we could do it together. And he has become one of the keys to me having the strength to carry on. I have a lot of admiration for people who do it all themselves, with no help. Both of us have our own relationships, so we remain very independent as well. But it's very important that Michel can offer a different angle. We're a mixture, we have different qualities and probably different defects too, but in the end it works. And that's not just a plus for us but also for clients of the farm.” Most importantly, however, these are not just matters of structure and execution. Because, as we said at the outset, ultimately everything will stand or fall on that great “intangible,” the empathy between horse and horseman. “Everybody needs some luck, some results, but there's never any guarantee,” says Puerari. “All we know is that the activity, as a breeder, is very rewarding in terms of human feelings. First because you work as a team, in a beautiful environment, and the team is very dedicated. And then when you see young horses, how they change every week, and you try to make them valuable. The difficult part is putting the mare in foal. Nobody understands why things suddenly go wrong, and the reality is that you have to accept some casualties. After the foal is born, you can control things a bit more. But the business of the breeder is to have a dream, and then to face reality every day. It's about trying to keep that dream alive.” The post Capucines Adapting to Remain in Full Bloom appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The dramatic victory of the world's highest rated racehorse Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March has been voted the World Pool Moment of the Year. It is the second year of the award, which was given to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and her groom Annabel Willis in 2022. The groom of near black superstar, Tomohiro Kusunoki, is the recipient of a VIP trip to the 2024 Hong Kong Derby or the 2024 Champions Day along with three guests. Trained by Tetsuya Kimura, Equinox received 47% of the vote to defeat Group 1-winning sprinter Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) and other top-level winners Ozzmosis (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) and Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). There were 27 individual World Pool Moment of the Day winners in 2023, with each winning groom receiving £4,000 (approx. HK$38,350), and an independent panel from the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) narrowed that down to the four finalists. Michael Fitzsimons, executive director, wagering products of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said, “It's a great pleasure to reveal Equinox as our 2023 World Pool Moment of the Year winner and present his groom Tomohiro Kusunoki with the winning prize of a VIP trip for four to Hong Kong next year. “Extraordinary performances like Equinox's Dubai Sheema Classic win don't happen by chance and World Pool are proud to support the dedication and daily care provided by grooms and stable staff of these great equine athletes. We look forward to welcoming Tomohiro and his guests to Hong Kong next year.” The post Dubai Sheema Classic Win Of Equinox Voted World Pool Moment Of The Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By completing an enormous year in style at Sha Tin on Sunday, Danny Shum’s star can show success abroad does not have to come at a cost at homeView the full article

Winner of the 1995 Hong Kong International Cup looks to spring another surprise on the city’s biggest race dayView the full article

What Nowra Showcase Cup Day Where Shoalhaven City Turf Club – 96 Albatross Rd, South Nowra NSW 2541 When Sunday, December 10, 2023 First Race 1:29pm AEDT Visit Dabble Country racing heads to Nowra on Sunday afternoon for the annual Nowra Showcase Cup (1600m) meeting. The rail is in the true position for the entire circuit, and with scorching hot days forecast in the lead-up, the surface should be improving into the Good range. The opening race is scheduled for 1:29pm local time. Nowra Showcase Cup Tip: Aristonous Some six of the 12 runners engaged in the Nowra Showcase Cup are dual-accepted for races across the weekend, but if connections elect to head this way, Aristonous should prove hard to beat. The son of Saonois produced back-to-back wins in his first Australian preparation and now returns from a 127-day spell. Watch for Heavelon van der Hoven to jag back to the rear of the field before unleashing Aristonous down the centre of the course. Nowra Showcase Cup Race 7 – #2 Aristonous (8) 4yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Heavelon van der Hoven (59.5kg) +450 with Neds Best Bet at Nowra: Pretty Sassy Pretty Sassy impressed with an eye-catching jump-out at Kembla Grange on November 27 and seems to find a very winnable race on debut. The Joseph Ible-trained filly trucked along under her own steam for Louise Day before dispatching her rivals by a length. She will need to replicate what she did when she faces race-day conditions for the first time; however, based on the eye and the clock, Pretty Sassy could be a talented type. Best Bet Race 1 – #6 Pretty Sassy (2) 3yo Filly | T: Joseph Ible | J: Louise Day (55.5kg) +270 with Picklebet Next Best at Nowra: Line Of Law Line Of Law resumed on a bottomless track at Orange on November 24 and did a credible job to run second considering the conditions. He got back in the small field in a slowly run race, meaning the three-year-old filly never had a chance to show her explosive turn of foot. Getting back on top of the ground should be much more suitable, and with a positive steer from barrier 10, Line Of Law will be making strong inroads late. Next Best Race 5 – #1 Line Of Law (10) 3yo Filly | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Robbie Downey (58kg) +300 with BoomBet Sunday quaddie tips for Nowra races Nowra quadrella selections Sunday, December 10, 2023 1-5-7 2-5-9-10 2-3-8-9 1-2-3-9 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article

What Hong Kong International Races Day 2023 Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Sunday, December 10, 2023 First Race 12:25pm HKT Visit Dabble The iconic Hong Kong International Races are set for Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon for a massive 10-race program – including four Group 1’s alluring the world’s best. The Hong Kong Vase, Sprint, Mile and Cup make up a stacked day racing scheduled to get underway at 12:25pm HKT (3:35pm AEDT). The rail is in the A position the entire circuit, and with only a minor chance of rain forecast on race-day, we don’t anticipate the track suffering a downgrade from the Good 4 surface listed at the time of writing. Keep reading for our free race-by-race preview and quaddie selections Race 1: Class 4 Handicap (1200m) The opening event is a Class 4 over 1200m, where Gorgeous Win should prove hard to beat. The son of Press Statement impressed on debut at this course and distance on November 19 when holding on for a third-place finish, despite setting a strong tempo throughout the journey. He’s had a lovely tick-over barrier trial since with Zac Purton taking the reins, and with the star Hong Kong hoop electing to hop aboard the Danny Shum-trained gelding, Gorgeous Win will give followers a bold sight in the opener. Selections: 6 GORGEOUS WIN 8 PATCH OF TIME 10 STORM RIDER 3 PHOENIX LIGHT Best Bet Race 1 – #6 Gorgeous Win (4) 3yo Gelding | T: Danny Shum | J: Zac Purton (58kg) Bet with Bet365 Race 2: Class 4 Handicap (1400m) Eighty Light Years appreciated the step back in grade first-up when closing strongly behind Lost Child on November 19 and should only improve second-up into the campaign. He had no issues lugging the 60kgs on that occasion but was simply outmatched by a smart one in the form of Lost Child. It’ll require an intelligent steer from Jerry Chau drawn in gate 10 to slot in for cover, but if the breaks fall his way, Eighty Light Years will be storming down the middle of the course late. Selections: 3 EIGHTY LIGHT YEARS 9 WINNING DATA 5 STAR CLUB 1 FUN N GLORY Race 3: Class 3 Handicap (1400m) Simple Hedge was beaten by 2.5 lengths first-up at this track and trip, but the margin doesn’t really tell the story. The son of Sebring was cast three and four wide without cover throughout on that occasion, but still showed the tenacity to stick to the task under Zac Purton. He draws barrier five this time, and if he can muster speed like he did last time out, Simple Hedge should be able to hold a position to the gain an economical run. This guy has plenty of upside compared to some key rivals, and we expect Simple Hedge to be closing best. Selections: 7 SIMPLE HEDGE 9 GLOBAL HARMONY 12 LOST CHILD 3 TAMRA BLITZ Next Best Race 3 – #7 Simple Hedge (5) 4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Zac Purton (58.5kg) Bet with Neds Race 4: Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) The Aiden O’Brien-trained Warm Heart gets the nod for us in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m), as the two-time Group 1 winning three-year-old filly makes her way to Hong Kong. She was terrific in the Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Fillies & Mares (2400m) at Santa Anita on November 4, where she was only beaten by another star mare in the form of Inspiral. Prior to that she was flying in Europe, taking out the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks (2000m) and Group 1 Prix Vermeille (2000m) respectively. Ryan Moore gets down to 53kgs for the mount showing strong intent, and from the inside draw, Warm Heart will be leading a long way out. Selections: 9 WARM HEART 8 LEBENSSTIL 5 WEST WIND BLOWS 3 ZEFFIRO Hong Kong Vase Race 4 – #9 Warm Heart (1) 3yo Filly | T: Aiden O’Brien | J: Ryan Moore (53kg) Bet with Unibet Race 5: Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) We couldn’t get away from Lucky Sweynesse in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). He’s building nicely into campaign after taking out the Group 2 Jockey Club Sprint(1200m) and seems to be peaking into his grand final on Sunday. Barrier five gives Zac Purton all the options aboard Hong Kong’s highest-rated sprinter, and provided he’s at his best, Lucky Sweynesse will rectify his luckless defeat from this race last year. Selections: 1 LUCKY SWEYNESSE 2 WELLINGTON 5 VICTOR THE WINNER 6 AESOP’S FABLES Hong Kong Sprint Race 5 – #1 Lucky Sweynesse (5) 5yo Gelding | T: Manfred Man | J: Zac Purton (57kg) Bet with Dabble Race 6: Class 3 Handicap (1800m) We take a break from Group 1 racing in the sixth event to focus on some possible Four-Year-Old Classic Series contenders – including our top selection Silver King. The son of Turn Me Loose tried to lead all the way on Hong Kong debut on November 11, just knocking up late over the 1600m due to a lack of race-day fitness. He still held ground for a third-place finish and we’re not convinced the grey appreciated his front-running role. Watch for James McDonald to drop this guy in for cover from barrier eight, and when the whips are cracking, Silver King will be right in the mix at the wire. Selections: 3 SILVER KING 1 AWESOME FLUKE 2 ENSUED 7 SWAN BAY Race 7: Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) We’re searching for some each-way value in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) and Japanese raider Serifos represents exactly that. The lightly raced five-year-old was luckless in the Group 1 Mile Championship (1600m) at Kyoto on November 19, sitting wide on a hectic tempo. It allowed the likes of key rivals Namur and Soul Rush to power over the top late, leaving Serifos waning in the closing stages. He’s all but guaranteed a soft run in transit from barrier four to turn the tables, and with Japanese superstar Yuga Kawada making the trip to Hong Kong, Serifos warrants an each-way ticket. Selections: 4 SERIFOS 7 BEAUTY ETERNAL 1 GOLDEN SIXTY 13 NAMUR Hong Kong Mile Race 7 – #4 Serifos (4) 5yo Horse | T: Mitsumasa Nakauchida | J: Yuga Kawada (57kg) Bet with Boombet Race 8: Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) How much has a trip to Australia taken out of Romantic Warrior? That’s the question on everyone’s mind and we’re willing to take on trust the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) winner is still ready to fire on Sunday. The Danny Shum barn know this guy so well now and have only sent him to the barrier trials once since getting off the float. He won the jump-out stylishly racing alongside one of the Hong Kong greats Golden Sixty and doesn’t seem to have missed the trick. This mount is why James McDonald has elected to have a stint in Hong Kong to end the year, and provided Romantic Warrior can maintain his brilliant best, he must be considered the one to beat. Selections: 2 ROMANTIC WARRIOR 3 PROGNOSIS 11 HORIZON DORE 1 LUXEMBOURG Hong Kong Cup Race 8 – #2 Romantic Warrior (7) 6yo Gelding | T: Danny Shum | J: James McDonald (57kg) Bet with Playup Race 9: Class 3 Handicap (1200m) The penultimate race sets up a mouth-watering clash between some very progressive types, none more so than Raging Blizzard. The son of Per Incanto returned to score impressively at this course and distance on November 19 in Class 4 company and should be suited dropping 4.5kgs heading up in grade for the first time. Andrea Atzeni gets the nod from the John Size barn and had a hit-out aboard the four-year-old at the barrier trials. This is a wide-open affair, so you may even get a good price about Raging Blizzard when markets open. Selections: 14 RAGING BLIZZARD 1 GALAXY PATCH 4 THE HEIR 9 SWEET BRIAR Race 10: Class 2 Handicap (1400m) Elliptical has been transferred to the Caspar Fownes barn and is set to make his Hong Kong debut in the final race of the program. His career highlight to date came in the Group 3 CS Hayes (1400m) at Flemington on February 18, where the Dundeel gelding produced a stunning turn of foot to get the nose down on the wire. His trials have been acceptable heading into this first-up contest, and although Elliptical may have bigger fish to fry with sights on the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, we can’t see why this guy can’t be competitive here along the way. Selections: 13 ELLIPTICAL 7 HELLIOS EXPRESS 8 ATULLIBIGEAL 12 TAJ DRAGON Best Value Race 10 – #13 Elliptical (10) 4yo Gelding | T: Caspar Fownes | J: Keith Yeung (52kg) Bet with Picklebet Sha Tin quaddie tips – HKIR Day 2023 Sha Tin quadrella selections Sunday, December 10, 2023 1-4-5-7-13 1-2-3-11 1-4-5-9-14 7-8-10-12-13 More horse racing tips View the full article

Owner Kamel Chehboub thinks his galloper could dethrone Romantic Warrior, while trainer Andre Fabre runs Junko in the Vase and Tribalist in the MileView the full article

Co-trainer Trent Busuttin is looking for Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) to return to form in the Gr.1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot but even if he does, he doubts he could defeat Zaaki (Leroidesanimaux). However, Busuttin has spent his life in racing and knows that the sport can provide unexpected results. “If Zaaki brings his best form, he wins the race. But in horse racing it’s not that straight forward. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be running,” Busuttin said. “Forgot You isn’t up to Zaaki’s class. He’s a four times Group One winner, who got beaten two lengths in a Cox Plate two starts ago. We are a Group Two winner twice as a three-year-old and a recent Listed winner.” Busuttin is expecting Forgot You to run a better race than his 14th in the Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 25. At his previous start, Forgot You was successful at Flemington in a Listed 1800-metre race. Busuttin found two reasons as to why Forgot You didn’t run well in the Railway Stakes. “The way the track played was very leader biased and we were out the back,” he said. “Last week, Ascot played fair and they came from back and wide. Whichever way you look at it, it’s a full field and there should be good speed which will suit him. “The first half of the field stayed where they were; the race didn’t change complexion.” Busuttin said all the eastern state horses who ran that day failed, which could have been due to the heat in Perth. “It was a very hot week that one,” he said. “The four horses from the eastern states who raced that day went poorly. It has to have had some effect on them.” “They are excuses though. We can say this and that and the other, but he’s still got to do it.” “He needs to improve. At his best, he’s capable of picking up prizemoney, for sure.” Busuttin said Forgot You also had to overcome barrier 13, but his work had been good. “He’s over there and has pulled up well. He’s likely to get back to his best form.” View the full article

Peter and Dawn Williams have fond memories in past editions of the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m), and the Byerley Park trainers are hoping another crown lies ahead with Desert Lightning on Saturday. The Williams’ claimed back-to-back victories in the Trentham feature, now known as the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m), in 2013 and 2014 when represented by classy mare Shuka, a winner of more than $700,000 in prizemoney. In this year’s event, they will prepare ever-consistent gelding Desert Lightning, a classy three-year-old returning to stakes company for the first occasion at four. Peter Williams recalled Desert Lightning’s first start at Ruakaka as a two-year-old in February 2022, where the talented juvenile showed his promise, saluting on debut ahead of future Group One-winner Skew Wiff. “He didn’t really show a lot until he went to the races, he’d trialled but the day he won at Ruakaka was pretty impressive,” Williams told TAB NZ. “When he won that day, he beat Skew Wiff and a couple of nice horses, so we thought we had something.” Desert Lightning was among the lesser celebrated three-year-olds last season, despite securing black-type success in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) alongside placings in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) and Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m), and only once finishing out of the first five placegetters. Returning in his four-year-old season in October, Desert Lightning was explosive when dominating a competitive Open 1200m field, getting home in an eye-catching 32.26 last 600m. His campaign continued onto Tauranga last start, where the gelding posted a creditable third placed performance on unfavourable Heavy8 track conditions. “He always tries, he always runs a good race. Some of the three-year-old races we had trouble with him over-racing and doing little things wrong, but he seems a lot better this year,” Williams said. “He has his little ways, he can be quite a toey horse when he wants to be but most of the time if you keep him in a routine he’s fine.” Desert Lightning will partner with regular rider Vinnie Colgan on Saturday, the Northern hoop having been aboard in all but three of his 14 starts. The son of Pride Of Dubai sits a current $9.00 fourth-favourite for the TAB Classic, with the well-travelled gelding Aegon sitting atop of the TAB market on his Kiwi return at $4.80. “Vinnie’s really pleased with him this season, he said he’s a lot better to ride in a race. Vinnie stuck with him last year all the way through and some of the times he wasn’t racing that kindly, but he seems to have improved now and matured,” Williams said. “His work on Tuesday morning was very good, I was very happy with it and that was the deciding factor for whether we’d definitely go. “He’s a good horse, whether he stacks up against the best we’ll wait to see but he’s done a good job so far. He just needs a bit of luck in some of his races and he’ll be alright. “We raced him over ground last year but I do think he’s probably a 1400m-1600m horse, he got away with it because he was a three-year-old, some three-year-old’s, if they’ve got a bit of ability, get away with it.” As of Friday morning, the Trentham course rated a Soft5 with a positive forecast ahead, perfectly suited to Williams’ charge. “The firmer the better for him, he’s a firm track horse. I know he’s won on a soft track, but his best form has been on firm ground. Looking at the weather forecast, the track should be perfect,” he said. Desert Lightning races in the colours of Barneswood Farm, owned by Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer. An influential pair in South Island racing, Green and Beemsterboer have a successful history with the Williams barn, having raced both Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m)-winning fillies Planet Rock and Media Sensation. “They’re very good clients of ours, the more races they win, the better it is for them and us. They’ve had a great run with their horses, hopefully it keeps coming.” View the full article

Detonator Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) will bank more than $1.7 million in two starts if he can win the Gr.2 The Ingham (1600m). The rural surrounds of Maher Racing’s supplementary Bong Bong Farm facility has been put to good use ahead of Detonator Jack’s bid to deliver the leading yard a first win in The Ingham. The gelding enjoyed a bit of R & R at the property following his dynamic Gong victory last month and co-trainer David Eustace said it had helped to keep the horse fresh for his Randwick mile bid. “He had a week at Bong Bong and that has really helped, he’s thrived doing that,” Eustace said. “Then we brought him in (to Warwick Farm), and he’s just had a piece of work since. “He’s going two weeks, two weeks, so he’s having a relatively busy time, but it will almost certainly be his last run, there will be nothing left for him anyway.” The Ingham (1600m) will be Detonator Jack’s seventh start in a campaign that has included a stakes placing and two minor prize finishes in the Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m) and the Five Diamonds (1800m), along with his Gong triumph. If he can add Saturday’s $3 million Ingham to his resume, he will become the first horse to claim the rich spring-summer double, superseding the effort of Quackerjack (Not A Single Doubt) who was second in the 2019 The Gong (1600m) before going one better in what was then known as the Gr.2 Villiers Stakes (1600m). Jason Collett retains his association with Detonator Jack and Eustace isn’t overly perturbed by the five-year-old’s wide draw in barrier 15. “Tempo will be key,” he said. “He’s put in some very good performances ridden from off the pace so without having had a good look at the race yet and the speed, I’d say if they went quick we’d just ride him patiently and he has got a good turn of foot.” The winner of The Ingham is granted a ballot exemption from the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m), a race Eustace believes could work for Detonator Jack, particularly if Sydney has a wet autumn. “It would be the obvious race to work back from, especially if we got wet ground,” Eustace said. “We’ll get through Saturday but it’s a nice carrot going into the race.” View the full article

Sprinter Waihaha Falls (NZ) (Sacred Falls) won’t get his preferred rain-affected conditions at Randwick, but he will have another couple of factors in his favour when he lines-up in the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m). The six-year-old resumed with a solid fifth over the same course and distance on Melbourne Cup Day, the effort satisfying trainer John O’Shea he had returned in good shape. Knowing the gelding appreciates his races spaced, O’Shea has given him a month between runs and significantly, Waihaha Falls arrives at the Razor Sharp second-up. The horse has four wins and four placings from 17 starts, half of those coming at his second run from a spell, and the timing of his appearance in a stakes race is no coincidence. “It has been on our radar for a while,” O’Shea said. “He would have preferred a little toe (in the ground) but he’s a horse that loves being three or four weeks between runs and he gets that on Saturday. “He gets a good gate (barrier three) and he’s taken a really big step forward from his first-up run. “It’s a nice race for him.” View the full article

Highly talented three-year-old Lupo Solitario has pleased Matamata trainer Danica Guy in the build-up to his return to racing, but a last-minute setback has cast some doubt over his participation in Saturday’s Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe. The Satono Aladdin gelding towered over the TAB’s market for the $120,000 feature at a quote of $1.70 on Friday, but Guy revealed that a stone bruise has made him an uncertain starter. “He’ll be absolutely fine moving forward, but he might not be fine for the race tomorrow,” Guy said on Friday afternoon. “It turns out he’s just got a minor bruise on one heel. It’s nothing major, but he’s feeling it a little bit today. We obviously can’t treat him for it today, so we’ve just got to let things take their course. If he’s still not quite right in the morning, he won’t be running. “The back-up option would be going straight to Boxing Day and running in the Auckland Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m), and then into the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) off just that one run. “We’re not worried about it at all. This was just going to be a nice step along the road.” Lupo Solitario launched his career with impressive back-to-back wins at Te Rapa and Tauranga in August and September. The placegetters in the Te Rapa maiden race were Glamour Tycoon and Mary Shan, who have both gone on to perform at black-type level. Lupo Solitario stepped on to the big stage for his third start, lining up in the Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa. He suffered the first defeat of his career, finishing second and a length and a half behind standout three-year-old Crocetti. That rival has now won all of his six starts including the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), while Sarten third placegetter To Catch A Thief filled the same position in the Riccarton classic. The big trip south for the 2000 Guineas was never on Guy’s agenda for Lupo Solitario, instead giving him a brief let-up before setting her sights on the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO at Ellerslie in late January. “Up until that little stone bruise today, everything had gone really well with him,” Guy said. “We gave him two weeks off after the Sarten, then we just slowly built him back up from there. “I was very pleased with how he went in a recent exhibition gallop at Counties, and his last gallop with Ryan (Elliot, jockey) aboard was just what we were looking for.” Lupo Solitario is also prominent in Karaka Millions 3YO betting, currently rated a $6 third favourite behind the $4 equal favourites Molly Bloom and Tokyo Tycoon. Lupo Solitario headlines a three-horse team for Guy at Pukekohe on Saturday, where bold performances are also expected from stablemates Wild West and Suzuka in the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Qualifier (1200m). It will be the first start in just over a year for Wild West, who has previously won in a fresh state. He showed good signs with a second placing in a Taupo trial on November 22, chasing home quality sprinter Bonny Lass. The lightly raced Suzuka ran fourth on debut in December of last year and has made a strong return in three starts this spring. He ran second behind budding star Adam I Am at Matamata in September, then won at Taupo before a last-start third in heavy ground at Tauranga. The TAB has Suzuka on the second line of favouritism at $6 behind Titled ($5.50), with Wild West not far behind on an $8 quote. “I’m rapt with both Wild West and Suzuka,” Guy said. “I’m just a little disappointed that Suzuka drew out wide. He’s a forward-running horse, so the lower the draw, the better. But it doesn’t look like there’s a whole lot of speed, so I just hope he can get forward without doing too much. I’m really happy with him. “I think the old boy Wild West is looking really good too. He should run well.” View the full article

Globetrotting Swedish jockey Ulrika Holmquist has made a homecoming of sorts, returning to New Zealand to ride for the summer. Holmquist arrived in New Zealand a decade ago to work in the racing industry, but soon found herself in the saddle and on a career path to becoming a jockey. She was initially apprenticed to Lee Somervell before transferring to Anne Herbert, and enjoyed plenty of success downunder, recording 40 wins before returning to Europe to continue her riding career. “I loved it here,” Holmquist said. “I think it is a beautiful country and the people here are very kind and helpful. “I have a lot of close friends here and I like the racing here, it is a high standard and you get a lot of black-type racing in New Zealand for being such a small country. “Getting to ride with some of the world’s best jockeys on the big days here was memorable.” Upon her return to Sweden, Holmquist quickly made a name for herself as a rising star in the European riding ranks and over the last few years she has taken advantage of the winter off-season in her homeland to experience riding in racing jurisdictions all around the world. “I have done a lot of riding in other countries as well because we don’t have a winter season,” she said. “Last winter I was riding in France. The year before that I was riding in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, which was very cool. I have also been over to America a few times with racing. “I have really enjoyed trying racing in different countries, you learn something new from each country and each surface you race on.” With racing in Sweden entering its winter hiatus, Holmquist thought it was timely to return to the country where her riding career began. “I thought it was a good opportunity to come back here and ride. I also wanted to see some of my friends and connections that I made over here. I am really happy to be back,” she said. “I will be here until at least March and if I like it I might stay longer. Last time I was over I stayed for a long time. I like it here.” Holmquist arrived in New Zealand on Wednesday and isn’t wasting anytime, engaged to ride at Arawa Park on Sunday. “Like any other jockey, you don’t want to have too much time off, especially now when the weather is nice and the racing is good. I am really looking forward to getting back in the saddle,” she said. Holmquist will ride No Agenda Nigel in the Greenlight Insurance Brokers 1400 for Stephen Ralph and Covermeinsunshine in The Rotorua Club 1230 for Trevor Da Cruz. “I have ridden for both of the trainers before when I was an apprentice. It is nice that they are supporting me again,” Holmquist said. Basing herself in Cambridge for the summer, Holmquist is utilising the services of jockey agent Ted McLachlan and said she is looking forward to reacquainting herself with the local trainers. “I am staying in Cambridge, but I am going to see if I can ride out a little bit in Matamata as well,” she said. “I wouldn’t be shy to travel either if it is a nice horse, but I am going to mostly be riding up north.” While looking to ride as many winners as she can, Holmquist said she would like to tick one particular goal off her list before returning to Europe. “It would be great to win a black-type race during my stint here, it is something I have been wanting to do in this country,” she said. View the full article

Lance Noble is sending just one horse down to Wellington this weekend, hoping his rising star Habana can deal to some unfinished business in the race now known as the Gr. 1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham. Noble saddled Viadana in the 2013 edition of the race, which was then called the Captain Cook Stakes. Badly blocked early in the home straight, Viadana eventually found a way through and surged to the front in the final 100m. However, she was edged out by Shuka in the last few strides and had to settle for second, beaten by a head. That was Viadana’s first start in a Group One weight-for-age race, and she had won twice at that level by the time the season was out – the NRM Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa and the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha. Now a private trainer for Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Noble is hoping to see Habana’s promising career hit similar heights. The Zoustar gelding rose through the ranks with four wins from seven starts last season, culminating in a runner-up finish on unsuitable heavy track conditions in the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m) in April. Habana has continued that upward trajectory this spring, resuming with an eye-catching third in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1200m) before collecting his first black-type win with a last-start success in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m). “I’ve been really happy with both of his runs this time in,” Noble said. “He seems to have carried on from where he left off with the progress he was making last season. “He was great in the Sweynesse first-up, then stepped up to the 1500m and won nicely at Counties. The form out of that race seems to be stacking up well too, with the runner-up El Vencedor going on to win easily at Group Three level the other day. So we’re pretty happy with how he’s tracking. “He’s been working well and seems to be as good as he can possibly be. It’s a bit different this time, being weight-for-age, but he had to carry 59kg last start and did it well. We think he’ll be okay taking this next step.” Habana will be ridden by Warren Kennedy, whose nine previous rides on the horse have produced five wins and two placings. The TAB rates Habana a $7.50 second favourite behind the market leader Aegon, who is at a quote of $4.80. Saturday’s TAB Classic will be only the second attempt at 1600m for Habana, who made his debut at the distance in the Easter in April. “His only previous attempt at 1600m was that Easter Handicap placing in wet ground, but I think he’ll handle it this weekend,” Noble said. “Warren knows the horse so well and seems to time his runs perfectly. The horse has always given us the impression that 1600m will suit him.” View the full article

California Spangle and Zac Purton hold off the late charge of Golden Sixty and Vincent Ho to win the Hong Kong Mile during HKIR at Sha Tin Racecourse. Photo by: Evers/HKJC California Spangle was the giantkiller in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) last year when defeating the outstanding champion Golden Sixty and his trainer Tony Cruz believes the combination of a new jockey and an excellent draw can be inductive to a similar performance in Sunday’s showpiece. The classy miler handed Cruz his 11th win at the Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) last year, meaning he returns as the meeting’s most successful trainer, and the former top jockey is confident changes within the team will not stop California Spangle producing another electric display. Zac Purton rode him to make most of the running and defeat Golden Sixty by a neck in a dramatic running of the Hong Kong Mile last year, but Hong Kong’s six-time champion jockey has not ridden the five-year-old for his two starts this campaign. Hugh Bowman was aboard when the gelding made a winning reappearance in the Group 2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) in October, while Matthew Chadwick partnered him to a fourth-placed effort in the Group 2 Jockey Club Mile (1600m) last time. Cruz is turning to a trusted figure to deliver him back-to-back victories in the race, with Christophe Soumillon booked to ride California Spangle for the first time. The Belgian rider will be bidding to win his third Hong Kong Mile after success with another locally trained star Good Ba Ba in 2008 and Admire Mars in 2019. “We’ve had to change the jockey but at least we can get hold of Christophe Soumillon and I think that will make a big difference,” Cruz said in Sha Tin’s parade ring on Thursday. “I know him very well, he’s ridden for me in the International races before, so I’m very happy to have him. “There’s been a lot of change in jockeys and also the owner sadly passed away, but California Spangle is in very good form coming into this race. I’m very happy with his condition and I’m delighted with the barrier draw.” California Spangle was handed stall three at the official ceremony, just one position wider than when he was victorious last year, and his trainer believes it will allow him to take advantage of his blistering early speed. “I don’t believe anybody can take him on for the lead,” he said. “He’s still the fastest horse there and he’s got an inside draw. He’s going to dictate the race again.” Golden Sixty broke from stall four last year but this time will have to negotiate the widest berth in 14, a factor Cruz believes will make life difficult for Stanley Chan’s behemoth. “It doesn’t seem like a good place to be,” he said. “Last year we were lucky because we were in front and he had to go around the field on the turn. In doing that he came too late to catch California Spangle.” Cruz will also run last year’s fourth, Beauty Joy, in the race, while he is also doubly represented in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) with Five G Patch and La City Blanche. Champion Dragon lines up for him in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m). The Hong Kong International Races take place on Sunday at Sha Tin racecourse. More horse racing news View the full article

Jamie Richards is plotting Group 1 success with Wellington. It would be fitting, to say the least, if Wellington were to provide Hong Kong-based New Zealand trainer Jamie Richards with a first major Hong Kong win and success in one of the world’s great sprint races when he tackles Sunday’s HK$26 million Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). Richards, who transferred to Hong Kong at the beginning of last season, could – had he stayed at home – have been basking this year in the glory of the major sprint race exploits of Imperatriz, which he trained through her first two seasons of racing. Imperatriz was unbeaten in four races through the recent Melbourne spring carnival; the latter three at Group 1 level, culminating with the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington. Not to mention, that Richards was also the original trainer of Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes winner and Everest runner-up I Wish I Win. Remarkably, the two horses were in Richards’ care when they quinellaed a Group 3 race in New Zealand in September 2021. However, the 53 times Group 1-winning trainer is not dwelling on any of this. “The focus is very much on Hong Kong now. I’ve enjoyed watching Imperatriz. She’s a low flying jet and Mark (Walker) and the Te Akau team have done a wonderful job with her. She’s immensely talented and just keeps getting better and better and I did have I Wish I win for a while as well. “I had my time in the sun before that, at home, and now it’s very much channelling all my energy into Hong Kong, consolidating on a good opening season last year and looking forward to Sunday and the rest of the month,” said Richards, who prepared notable horses such as Melody Belle, Probabeel, Te Akau Shark, Xtravagant, Gingernuts and Avantage in New Zealand and Australia. Richards and his fiancee Danielle Johnson are expecting their first child at the end of the month and, this week, will welcome a “few friends” visiting Hong Kong on the eve of Wellington’s quest for successive Hong Kong Sprint wins. Last year, Wellington was prepared by Richard Gibson (who’s since left Hong Kong) and Richards said he hasn’t “reinvented the wheel” in preparing the seven-year-old whose last run was an unsuccessful assault on the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot in June. “He had a break after Ascot and we sent him to Conghua for a change of scenery. He’s a bit quirky so we keep things pretty simple with him and he’s come back into training in good order. “My assistant Jones Ma worked with Richard (Gibson) and obviously knows the horse well and we think he’s in pretty good shape. He ran well first-up and it’s just been a case of maintenance work since then. He had a good stretch on Monday and it’s all systems go for Sunday. “He’s probably had to have improved again from the Jockey Club Sprint and he’s got Lucky Sweynesse to deal with plus the Japanese and the Europeans so it’s no easy task but I’d expect him to run very well,” Richards said. Meanwhile, Richards remains committed to clawing his way up the trainer’s ranks. “I love Hong Kong. It’s very competitive and very challenging here. It’s not easy to win races here but we’ll keep working hard. There’s plenty to look forward to this month and for the remainder of the season,” he said. More horse racing news View the full article

The in-form O’Sullivan/Scott partnership have a strong contingent across the Northern meetings this weekend. Photo: Race Images South A strong start to the season sees Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott sitting fourth on the New Zealand trainers’ premiership with 19 wins, and the Matamata pair can continue their form with another big and talented team of weekend runners. O’Sullivan and Scott are already more than halfway towards their 2022-23 total of 32 wins, with a hugely productive spring headlined by black-type successes from Molly Bloom in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Dragon Leap in the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m). Wexford Stables will be represented by 19 runners across the meetings at Pukekohe on Saturday and Rotorua on Sunday, including a number of well-credentialled chances. Promising five-year-old Uderzo kicks off the weekend in the first race on the Pukekohe card, the $65,000 Happy Milestone Birthday David Ellis (1200m). The Vadamos gelding has been a four-time winner from 11 starts to date. He made good progress through the grades with two wins and three placings from eight starts last season, and he kicked off his 2023-24 campaign with a dominant victory in a Rating 75 sprint at Tauranga on November 18. “He surprised us a wee bit with that very easy win on heavy ground,” Scott said. “We’ve kept him to 1200m again for his second-up run on Saturday, just to try to continue to teach him a little bit. When he got up over further in his last preparation, he just tended to get a bit eager and wanted to get along. He relaxed nicely over the six furlongs first-up, so we’ll give him another run at that trip here. “This is going to be quite a step up. Bonny Lass looks like she’ll be very hard to beat. But we’re pleased with the horse, he’s won at Pukekohe before and we think he has another good sprint performance in him. “How he handles this grade on Saturday will guide us in terms of what we do through the rest of his campaign.” Another son of Vadamos, Mosinvader, is expected to relish the step up in distance for Saturday’s Barfoot & Thompson (1600m). The three-year-old colt made his debut over 1400m at Taupo on November 9, and he made up good ground late in the race to finish seventh. “He found the line pretty strongly on debut and is a real improver,” Scott said. “We think the step up to the mile will suit him. He’s got a good gate (three) and a good rider (Craig Grylls). “He’s a colt that we think will continue to improve over the summer months and he should appreciate longer distances. He’s quite a promising staying three-year-old in the making.” Magawa lines up in the Championship Qualifier (1200m), having flashed home for second at Tauranga on November 18. “He got home very nicely last time behind a horse carrying a lot less weight than him, and he goes well right-handed,” Scott said. “He just lacked a bit of concentration during that last-start run, so the blinkers will go on for the first time this weekend. “We’ve mixed his work up a bit with some jumping, and we think he’s going into this race in good shape.” Jaffira is on the ballot for the Ellerslie Events (1500m), but could be one of the stable’s best chances of the weekend if he makes the field. The son of Iffraaj won twice as a three-year-old last season and contested the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). He caught the eye with a strong finish for third when he resumed over 1400m at Te Rapa on November 11. “His sectionals were very good that day,” Scott said. “He’s looking great and will appreciate the extra distance second-up. Now that he’s been gelded, we think he’s a lot more focused and consistent. “It’s a hot little field on Saturday, but if he gets a run, he can definitely be thereabouts at the finish.” Scott is also upbeat about the prospects of the stable’s 12-strong team at Rotorua on Sunday, which includes three-year-olds I Am Groot, Ever Charm and Forseti. “We’ve got a bit of time for I Am Groot,” Scott said. “He’s placed in his last two trials, and the winners of those trials have both come out and won races (Wind Of Change and We Can Party). He could be a nice staying type of three-year-old. “Ever Charm is another one on debut on Sunday. He won his trial in good style. He’s a nice horse who could have a big summer in front of him. “Forseti ran fifth on debut and might be a quick improver on that. We don’t think she was comfortable in the heavy ground that day and she’s made good progress since. “If they all run up to what they’ve been showing at home, it could be quite a good day for the team on Sunday.” More horse racing news View the full article

Desert Lightning will contest the Group 1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday for two-time victors Peter and Dawn Williams. Photo: Trish Dunell Peter and Dawn Williams have fond memories in past editions of the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m), and the Byerley Park trainers are hoping another crown lies ahead with Desert Lightning on Saturday. The Williams’ claimed back-to-back victories in the Trentham feature, now known as the Group 1 TAB Classic (1600m), in 2013 and 2014 when represented by classy mare Shuka, a winner of more than $700,000 in prizemoney. In this year’s event, they will prepare ever-consistent gelding Desert Lightning, a classy three-year-old returning to stakes company for the first occasion at four. Peter Williams recalled Desert Lightning’s first start at Ruakaka as a two-year-old in February 2022, where the talented juvenile showed his promise, saluting on debut ahead of future Group 1-winner Skew Wiff. “He didn’t really show a lot until he went to the races, he’d trialled but the day he won at Ruakaka was pretty impressive,” Williams told TAB NZ. “When he won that day, he beat Skew Wiff and a couple of nice horses, so we thought we had something.” Desert Lightning was among the lesser celebrated three-year-olds last season, despite securing black-type success in the Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) alongside placings in the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) and Group 3 Manawatu Classic (2000m), and only once finishing out of the first five placegetters. Returning in his four-year-old season in October, Desert Lightning was explosive when dominating a competitive Open 1200m field, getting home in an eye-catching 32.26 last 600m. His campaign continued onto Tauranga last start, where the gelding posted a creditable third placed performance on unfavourable Heavy8 track conditions. “He always tries, he always runs a good race. Some of the three-year-old races we had trouble with him over-racing and doing little things wrong, but he seems a lot better this year,” Williams said. “He has his little ways, he can be quite a toey horse when he wants to be but most of the time if you keep him in a routine he’s fine.” Desert Lightning will partner with regular rider Vinnie Colgan on Saturday, the Northern hoop having been aboard in all but three of his 14 starts. The son of Pride Of Dubai sits a current $9.00 fourth-favourite for the TAB Classic, with the well-travelled gelding Aegon sitting atop of the market on his Kiwi return at $4.80. “Vinnie’s really pleased with him this season, he said he’s a lot better to ride in a race. Vinnie stuck with him last year all the way through and some of the times he wasn’t racing that kindly, but he seems to have improved now and matured,” Williams said. “His work on Tuesday morning was very good, I was very happy with it and that was the deciding factor for whether we’d definitely go. “He’s a good horse, whether he stacks up against the best we’ll wait to see but he’s done a good job so far. He just needs a bit of luck in some of his races and he’ll be alright. “We raced him over ground last year but I do think he’s probably a 1400m-1600m horse, he got away with it because he was a three-year-old, some three-year-old’s, if they’ve got a bit of ability, get away with it.” As of Friday morning, the Trentham course rated a Soft5 with a positive forecast ahead, perfectly suited to Williams’ charge. “The firmer the better for him, he’s a firm track horse. I know he’s won on a soft track, but his best form has been on firm ground. Looking at the weather forecast, the track should be perfect,” he said. Desert Lightning races in the colours of Barneswood Farm, owned by Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer. An influential pair in South Island racing, Green and Beemsterboer have a successful history with the Williams barn, having raced both Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m)-winning fillies Planet Rock and Media Sensation. “They’re very good clients of ours, the more races they win, the better it is for them and us. They’ve had a great run with their horses, hopefully it keeps coming.” More horse racing news View the full article

Lupo Solitario will make an awaited return in Saturday’s Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) After making an enormous impression in his first three starts in the spring, all eyes will be on Lupo Solitario when he returns to action against a small field in Saturday’s Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe. Lupo Solitario heads the line-up for the $120,000 feature, which originally had eight acceptances but has been reduced to six with two scratchings. The Satono Aladdin gelding is a commanding favourite in the market, sitting at a quote of $1.70 on Friday morning. Trained by Danica Guy at Matamata, Lupo Solitario launched his career with impressive back-to-back wins at Te Rapa and Tauranga in August and September. The placegetters in the Te Rapa maiden race were Glamour Tycoon and Mary Shan, who have both gone on to perform at black-type level. Lupo Solitario stepped on to the big stage for his third start, lining up in the Group 2 Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa. He suffered the first defeat of his career, finishing second and a length and a half behind standout three-year-old Crocetti. That rival has now won all of his six starts including the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), while Sarten third placegetter To Catch A Thief filled the same position in the Riccarton classic. The big trip south for the 2000 Guineas was never on Guy’s agenda for Lupo Solitario, instead giving him a brief let-up before setting her sights on the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie in late January. “Everything’s gone really well with him,” Guy said this week. “We gave him two weeks off after the Sarten, then we just slowly built him back up from there. “I was very pleased with how he went in a recent exhibition gallop at Counties, and his last gallop with Ryan (Elliot, jockey) aboard was just what we were looking for. He should be spot on heading into this race on Saturday. “Further down the track, there’s a three-year-old mile on New Year’s Day that looks like a really suitable race to head to next. As long as everything’s still going well with him, we’ll carry on into the Karaka Millions after that.” Lupo Solitario is also prominent in Karaka Millions 3YO betting, currently rated a $6 third favourite behind the $4 equal favourites Molly Bloom and Tokyo Tycoon. Lupo Solitario headlines a three-horse team for Guy at Pukekohe on Saturday, where bold performances are also expected from stablemates Wild West and Suzuka in the Championship Qualifier (1200m). It will be the first start in just over a year for Wild West, who has previously won in a fresh state. He showed good signs with a second placing in a Taupo trial on November 22, chasing home quality sprinter Bonny Lass. The lightly raced Suzuka ran fourth on debut in December of last year and has made a strong return in three starts this spring. He ran second behind budding star Adam I Am at Matamata in September, then won at Taupo before a last-start third in heavy ground at Tauranga. Top racing betting sites has Suzuka on the second line of favouritism at $6 behind Titled ($5.50), with Wild West not far behind on an $8 quote. More horse racing news View the full article

Northern gelding Habana carries the hopes of trainer Lance Noble in Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham. Photo: Trish Dunell Lance Noble is sending just one horse down to Wellington this weekend, hoping his rising star Habana can deal to some unfinished business in the race now known as the Group 1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham. Noble saddled Viadana in the 2013 edition of the race, which was then called the Captain Cook Stakes. Badly blocked early in the home straight, Viadana eventually found a way through and surged to the front in the final 100m. However, she was edged out by Shuka in the last few strides and had to settle for second, beaten by a head. That was Viadana’s first start in a Group 1 weight-for-age race, and she had won twice at that level by the time the season was out – the NRM Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa and the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha. Now a private trainer for Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Noble is hoping to see Habana’s promising career hit similar heights. The Zoustar gelding rose through the ranks with four wins from seven starts last season, culminating in a runner-up finish on unsuitable heavy track conditions in the Group 3 Easter Handicap (1600m) in April. Habana has continued that upward trajectory this spring, resuming with an eye-catching third in the Group 3 Sweynesse Stakes (1200m) before collecting his first black-type win with a last-start success in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m). “I’ve been really happy with both of his runs this time in,” Noble said. “He seems to have carried on from where he left off with the progress he was making last season. “He was great in the Sweynesse first-up, then stepped up to the 1500m and won nicely at Counties. The form out of that race seems to be stacking up well too, with the runner-up El Vencedor going on to win easily at Group Three level the other day. So we’re pretty happy with how he’s tracking. “He’s been working well and seems to be as good as he can possibly be. It’s a bit different this time, being weight-for-age, but he had to carry 59kg last start and did it well. We think he’ll be okay taking this next step.” Habana will be ridden by Warren Kennedy, whose nine previous rides on the horse have produced five wins and two placings. Online bookmakers rates Habana a $7.50 second favourite behind the market leader Aegon, who is at a quote of $4.80. Saturday’s TAB Classic will be only the second attempt at 1600m for Habana, who made his debut at the distance in the Easter in April. “His only previous attempt at 1600m was that Easter Handicap placing in wet ground, but I think he’ll handle it this weekend,” Noble said. “Warren knows the horse so well and seems to time his runs perfectly. The horse has always given us the impression that 1600m will suit him.” More horse racing news View the full article

By Brigette Solomon The father and son training partnership of Ray and Jeff Darby had their first winner at Cambridge Raceway last night with Neymar taking out Race 2, the Dunstan 100% New Zealand Mobile Pace. To make it extra special Jeff Darby was also the successful driver, in the amateur drivers’ event. It was a patient and composed drive from Darby who dropped Neymar back to settle last on the fence after starting from barrier 8. Neymar enjoyed an easy trip before coming off the markers just after the 400 metre mark to sprint home down the outside for a comfortable win. “It’s my first season as a trainer and it was nice to get the first win with Neymar and to have driven him too,” says Jeff Darby. “Dad and I not only train the horse together but also own him, he’s not been the easiest so the win should help build his confidence.” Drivers Andre Poutama and David Butcher also scored double driving successes at last night’s meeting. Poutama’s first win came in Race 1, the Dunstan Horse Feeds Handicap Trot, with the Ival Brownlee-trained Emily Bay who led from start to finish to win by three lengths. Poutama’s second winner came by way of Beaudiene Rocknroll with another front running drive in Race 6, the Dunstan Speedfeed Mobile Pace over 1700m. Major Achievement finished second giving Ray Green the quinella with his only two starters for the night. Butcher’s first success of the night came from Caulfield in Race 5, who he also trains. “He’s a lovely, honest horse with a heap of owners in him so it was great for them to get win number five with him,” says Butcher. It was a tough win by the four-year-old gelding who briefly trailed after leaving the gate before coming round to lead. With the last half run in 57.5s Caulfield fought hard to the line to win when challenged by Bad Medicine (2nd) and Katie’s Princess (3rd). Butcher ended the night with a win on Turnpike Joe, trained by Arna Donnelly, in Race 7, the Merry Christmas from Dunstan Mobile Pace over 2200m. It was the Raging Bull gelding’s third start after two fourths at Manawatu a fortnight ago. “He won well, the trip to Palmerston North seems to have been good for him,” says Butcher. View the full article

By Frank Marrion, courtesy of the HarnessXpress This just isn’t supposed to happen. A Southland hobby trainer with just the odd horse in work downing the might of the All Stars in a race for two-year-old fillies at Addington. A ‘stallion’ with no more than one foal per crop beating up on fillies by Bettor’s Delight and Captaintreacherous. But that is exactly what happened at Addington last Friday night when the Lord Forbes filly Louies Girl downed Treacherous Baby and Madrid. And it could easily happen again in a Group 1 at Addington on Sunday when Louies Girl tackles the $110,000 Ace of Diamonds and pretty much the same fillies. For breeder-owner Gavin Forbes, who trains out of Oreti Beach after giving the game away for several years, Louies Girl was his first win at Addington since Lord Forbes won there in June, 2008. “He was actually in the name of Ray Faithful at the time as I had a son that needed to be in hospital for a while,” said Forbes. “Ray started him three times and he won three times for him.” Forbes trained Lord Forbes for his other 115 races however and would have been training Louies Girl, but for handing him over to Craig Ferguson when she was ready for the trials in early October. “Part of the reason for that is that Louies Girl is so damn lazy it’s hard work just getting her to jog. She jogs like a donkey. “With Craig having the swimming pool at the Wyndham track, she has the choice to sink or swim. “Craig says you can slip a little extra work into them without them really knowing that way. “Lord Forbes was really lazy like that himself and so is Huki Fella. “You have to take his ear plugs out just to get him going in the prelim. “But they’re all fine once they have a horse alongside them.” Three-year-old Huki Fella is Lord Forbes’ first foal and had two wins and two seconds from four races in his latest prep for Ferguson before being freshened. Louies Girl has impressively won her last three races to give Lord Forbes a 100% record and now he’s begun ‘stud duties’ at Macca Lodge. “I’ve done three mares with him myself, including two of my own, and on Monday he went to Macca Lodge, where there’s another three mares waiting for him. “Grant Hunt, who bred Lord Forbes, rang the other day to say he was sending a couple and there’s also been interest from as far afield as Auckland. “I’ve been taking a lot of calls in recent days.” One must really wonder just where all this is going after Forbes only got involved in the game again because he decided to breed a foal a year by Lord Forbes. He now has four of them and doing their early educations led to him training Mach’s Back, who won a race at Winton in June to give Forbes his first win in over 12 years. That was at Winton with Nothingsweetaboutme, a half-sister to Lord Forbes that Forbes trained for a while for Hunt. That was not long after Lord Forbes’ last win in a Wyndham Cup, where he sat parked for the last lap before racing away to score by five lengths in 3.58 for the 3200m stand. Soon after Lord Forbes finished third in an Invercargill Cup and he started in several features, including the New Zealand Cup when Monkey King beat Smoken Up in 2010.In all, Lord Forbes won 11 races and $149,000, setting several Southland records along the way. “Lord Forbes was a tough wee horse but he also had early speed and won a two-year-old race at Winton beating Robyn’s Cullen. “I’ve often wondered what he might have done if he’d been in a big stable actually.” Louies Girl is a real chip off the block of Lord Forbes in many ways. Also a dark bay horse, she clearly has the same ample speed and toughness, while also having a very similar temperament as Lord Forbes. Or Lord Forbes has stamped her, like good sires do. The now 18-year-old son of Live Or Die will never be commercial, but he clearly has plenty to offer. While Forbes has long held Louies Girl in high regard, her rapid progress has been a pleasant surprise for Craig Ferguson and Mark Hurrell, the latter driving her to her first two wins recently. She was showing promise when she raced in the Kindergarten and Diamond Creek Farm Classic in the autumn, finishing sixth on each occasion in her first two starts. Then Ferguson drove Louies Girl for the first time in a maiden at Winton, where she performed poorly in finishing last and was tipped out. “She was crook that day but she’d probably come to the end of it as well,” said Fergsuon. “She was working well enough when she came to me, but I didn’t really have any expectations given her breeding – I didn’t know what to think. “Her first win suggested it was worth thinking about a trip to Canterbury, but then she went to another level again. “Her last three runs have each been a big step up each time and she’s surprised me with how much she’s improved. “The harder they go, the more she likes it, and she’ll definitely run time with the right trip. “She’s also still got a bit of filling out to do, so she has the makings of a really nice filly next year.” Louies Girl initially went two slashing trials with Hurrell driving. In the first of them she would have been giving the leader around 15 lengths at the half, which they ran in 58 with Louies Girl storming home to be beaten less than three lengths. When she resumed in a maiden at Winton, Louies Girl worked to an early lead and left them to it, winning by six and a half lengths in 1.57.4, home in 27.5 on an easy track. Then in a race for two-year-old fillies at Wyndham, Louies Girl led before trailing Raklou, and winning by almost two lengths in 1.55.4, home in 26.7. Taking on the top two-year-old fillies at Addington from a second line draw was supposed to be a whole new ballgame however. Nobody told Louies Girl though. Four back in the running line before Ferguson made his move passing the 400m, Louies Girl came five wide and powered home over the top of them, with Mark Purdon’s surprised glances across from the runner-up Treacherous Baby probably summing things up. Louies Girl has drawn eight on Sunday, but they’re probably going to go hard, so staying out of the early rush could easily work in her favour. Louies Girl is the first foal that Forbes has bred from One Bad Dream, a Badlands Hanover mare that Forbes bought a few years ago along with her dam, Dream Angel, from Murray Little. Dream Angel is a Dream Away sister to One Dream and produced Mach’s Back (9 wins) and Lou’s Dream along with the dam of Christianshavtime (1.55.4, 6 NZ wins, $92,000). Lou’s Dream has won six races in Queensland this year, the latest at Albion Park recently in 1.53.6. “Murray had just got a few too many mares around him and I jumped at the chance to buy Dream Angel and One Bad Dream.” One Bad Dream has also produced a yearling filly by Captain Crunch and Dream Angel has just left a filly foal by him, but they’re both going to Lord Forbes this season. Forbes has also bred a weanling colt by Lord Forbes from Dream Angel, while his fourth one by him is a yearling colt from the Lis Mara mare Livy Franco. Forbes is going to race the latter colt with his 90-year-old auntie Val Heads and her daughter Judy who runs their farm at Edendale. “I’ve given that one to Alex Milne nearby and he kind of keeps Val going. “He’s a good size and has a neck on him like a stallion despite being gelded. “In fact he’s built like Arnold Schwarzenegger.” View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk A speed machine and stable favourite, Franco Norton looks to have run his last race. “We are 99.9 per cent sure he’ll be retired,” says trainer Steven McRae. Bred and raced by Spreydon Lodge, Franco Norton has won 10 races from 24 starts, and just over $95,000 in stakes. “It’s frustrating because we know just how good he is.” Problems surfaced with the five-year-old gelding after his fast finishing second to Ohoka Connor in last weekend’s Methven Four Square Supermarket Green Mile. The problem is with a front deep flexor tendon. “He’s not lame or anything but there is swelling in there.” The five-year-old son of A Rocknroll Dance has had a constant battle with injuries throughout his career. “Usually it’s the back legs that are the problem and we didn’t see this one coming,” says McRae. He was due to start in tomorrow’s Geraldine Cup, before being scratched. “The last seven or eight races he’s been going as well as ever .. we thought he was going to have even bigger 12 months and was a (New Zealand) Cup horse in the making.” His 10th and last career win came in the Winton Cup on April 13 when he made a great start off his 25m backmark to lead. He then reeled off a last 800 in 54.2 to beat One Change and Cya Art. As for his post racing life Franco Norton will remain at Spreydon Lodge’s West Melton property just outside Christchurch in the meantime. “He’s the stable pet and just loves attention and lots of pats,” says McRae, “we will take our time to find the right home for him.” View the full article

What Ballarat Cup Day Where Ballarat Turf Club – 240 Kennedys Rd, Miners Rest VIC 3352 When Saturday, December 9, 2023 First Race 12:10pm AEDT Visit Dabble The $500,000 Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) is the feature event on a bumper 10-race program in Victoria’s Central Highlands this Saturday. The rail is out +2m from the 400m to the winning post, then sitting true for the remainder of the course. There are some scattered showers forecast in the region, so punters may want to anticipate a possible downgrade into the Soft range at some stage. Ballarat Cup Tip: Foxy Cleopatra Foxy Cleopatra’s connections have opted for Ballarat over the Ingham Stakes or the Santa Cup at Randwick this weekend. The daughter of American Pharoah finished runner-up in both starts to kick off the campaign, with the latest coming in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) behind Charterhouse on November 25. She is set to peak third-up, and with the 2000m seemingly ideal for Foxy Cleopatra, watch for her to be storming home to pick up career win number two. Ballarat Cup Race 8 – #8 Foxy Cleopatra (12) 4yo Mare | T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | J: Craig Williams (54kg) +500 with Neds Best Bet: Shohei We are willing to forgive Shohei after a lacklustre first-up performance at Rosehill on November 4 when returning from a 217-day spell. Her lack of race-day fitness showed and she was clicked up a long way out by Jay Ford to stick on for a mid-field finish. Her best performance to date came on the anti-clockwise circuit at Bendigo in the Gold Bracelet (1400m) back in April behind Foxy Frida, and if she can hold that form on Saturday, Shohei will take a power of beating. Best Bet Race 4 – #7 Shohei (5) 5yo Mare | T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | J: Jye McNeil (57kg) +380 with Bet365 Next Best Bet: Divine Purpose Formerly trained by Clinton Taylor in Queensland, Divine Purpose made a strong debut for the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman barn at Caulfield on November 18 and was unfortunate not to salute. The mare by Divine Prophet closed off heels and was forced to chase in limited space along the inside rail, so she did well to run second. Carlee Hefel sticks aboard in this BM78 contest, and although Divine Purpose may be better suited over further, she is capable of winning at the mile. Next Best Race 6 – #16 Divine Purpose (9) 4yo Mare | T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman | J: Carleen Hefel (a1.5kg) (54kg) +280 with BoomBet Best Value Bet: Alhambra Lad Nothing went to plan for Alhambra Lad at Caulfield first-up on November 18, as the son of Proisir missed the start in what ended up as a glorified barrier trial over 1600m. The six-year-old is a genuine stayer, confirmed by his run of four-straight victories over 2000m or further last campaign. Billy Egan will press forward from barrier six and has the option to lead if he wants to, and from there, Alhambra Lad will give a bold sight at an each-way price with online bookmakers. Best Value Race 5 – #1 Alhambra Lad (6) 6yo Gelding | T: Patrick Payne | J: Billy Egan (61.5kg) +1600 with Bet365 Ballarat Cup Day 2023 quaddie tips Ballarat quadrella selections Saturday, December 9, 2023 3-6-8-10-12 1-8 3-8-9-11 1-6-8-10-12-14-16 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip More horse racing tips View the full article